IPod goes to school

The IPod isn’t just for entertainment anymore.

The popular MP3 music device also serves a learning tool in high school and college classrooms.

In the world of constant connectivity of today’s youths, technologies such as the Apple IPod and IPhone, paired with the vast media capabilities of ITunes, present a constant and powerful influence.

The 13-to-24 demographic is more deeply immersed in “ITechnologies” than ever before as these innovations become increasingly vital to the educational process.

A Feb. 25 press release from Abilene Christian University in Texas announced a campuswide initiative to distribute an IPod touch or IPhone to all freshmen beginning next fall.

Several prominent institutions across the nation have successfully used ITunes University, an extension of the ITunes online store that provides free access to class lectures via downloadable podcasts.

ITunes University essentially transforms the IPod into a portable learning device. A college or university can create a page within ITunes U and include links to course documents, podcast videos of lectures and other class material made accessible to instructors, students and the general public. Students can upload and share their own content.

ITunes U provides an unprecedented level of flexibility, giving students 24/7 access to lectures and the ability to learn at their own pace, any time and anywhere.

University-level institutions also have adopted interactive sites such as Blackboard.com to facilitate classroom communication in a virtual domain. Some professors offer so-called “virtual office hours” to maintain correspondence with students through e-mail, message board discussions and blogs.

Jeremy Michalek, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, constructed for his course a “wiki” — a Web site that users can edit easily. Mr. Michalek said the site, which is comparable to the commonly used reference Web site Wikipedia.com, allows students to “share and access course content, write reports, communicate ideas and contribute content via the Internet.”

ITunes U takes this effort one step further, combining audio, video and PDF (portable document format) versions of course material to create an online academic community.

Since ITunes U was introduced in May, the service has gained momentum at schools such as Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, the University of California at Berkeley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Jason Lee, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, is helping promote ITunes U across his campus.

“I really believe that ITunes U is an amazing resource that benefits not only students but also Penn’s faculty, administration, alumni, prospective students and the general public,” Mr. Lee said. “While it may take some time for students to fully understand and appreciate the true potential of this program, I think that it certainly appeals to them because these students recognize and appreciate the value of technology.”

Apple’s IPod can be customized with comfort-fit earphones, colorful protective cases and laser engraving. These and other special features, which may seem extravagant to other generations, add to their appeal among young consumers.

“Young people want customization — anything that makes it feel like their own,” said Jane Buckingham, president of the Intelligence Group, a marketing research and consulting firm specializing in Generation Y consumer culture and behavior. “They want something distinct. When it comes to new colors and other features, it’s all about the latest and greatest.”

As a “fourth-screen” alternative to television, radio and the personal computer, the IPod appeals to Generation Y consumers. Apple has sold more than 140 million IPods since the devices entered the market in 2001. The IPod’s online companion, ITunes, is the No. 2 music retailer in the United States, with more than 50 million ITunes Store customers to date.

“The IPod has redefined how young people listen to and watch media,” Miss Buckingham said. “Technology changes the dynamic of how teens communicate. They want to learn in different ways and through different mediums, whether it’s through online podcasts, EHow.com or YouTube videos. Today’s young people just want the facts; they are very technical.”

Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, said the influence of technology on young people extends beyond the classroom.

“We hear from teens that the biggest changes … are happening when [they] return home to do their homework,” the researcher said. “Their use of the Internet, the way they collaborate, and the way they merge schoolwork and socializing are hallmarks of teen life now.”